Hair curler



April 27, 1943. R. MCFADDEN 2,317,929

HAIR CURLER Filed Jan. 5, 1943 INVENTOR. fix, 74%

A ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED stares PATENT oFF cE HAIR CURLER Ross McFadden, Hollywood, Calif.

Application January 5, 1943, Serial No. 471,384

4 Claims. (Cl. 132-41) This invention relates generally to appliances for use in dressing or treating womens hair and is more particularly directed to improvements in so-called winders or curlers upon which the hair is wound for setting or other purposes.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and durable curler or winder which will perform its intended function in a most efiicient manner and which is made entirely of plastic material, with the attendant advantages in production.

More specifically, it is an important object of this invention to provide a hair curler or winder, as aforesaid, embodying a shell or mandrel and a cooperating sleeve, together with'a clasp for retaining the hair windings in association with the mandrel and sleeve, the clasp being composed of a resilient plastic material and being conformed to function in the interconnection of the sleeve with the shell for relative arcuate movement and for interlocking engagement with the shell for retaining the hair windings in position upon the device.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will become evident as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown certain perferred embodiments of my invention, for the purposes of this disclosure. It will be understood, however, that my invention is subject to modifications to meet production or other requirements, within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a curler conforming to my invention, showing its mode of application in the treatment of the hair; I

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure of Figure 1 with the sleeve and clasp disposed in arcuately spaced relation to the shell;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one end of the device, to illustrate the inter-fconnection of the clasp with the shell and sleeve;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the opposite end of the curler, showing the manner in which the clasp is interlockable with the free end of the shell;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in plan, of the free end of the shell, showing a modified arrangement for effecting the interlocking engagement of the clasp with the shell; and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-section view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views, and more particularly to the preferred form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, Iii indicates the shell or mandrel of the appliance,

which is generally of an elongated tubular configuration and provided with oppositely disposed perforations II in its circumferential wall, the shell being produced from a suitable plastic .material to possess the requisite rigidity and tapering slightly toward one end to facilitate its disassociation from the hair windings, when in use, in the manner well known in the art.

A sleeve I2, likewise having peripheral perforations, as at [3, is adapted to be hingedly connected to the aforesaid shell It in the manner hereinafter described. This sleeve, which is preferably composed of the same material as the shell I0, is of a substantially semi-annular crosssection at one end and tapers to a minor are at its opposite end to provide a surface which will conform approximately to thatportion of the periphery of the shell which it overlies in the functioning of the appliance. As will be noted, especially from Figure 5 of the drawing, a portion of the wall of the sleeve is cut away in the end zone of major cross-section, as indicated at M, to form a bifurcation, the laterally spaced branches I5 and 16 thereof being apertured, as at IT, for registration with corresponding apertures [B in the end of the shell H] which the bifurcated end of the sleeve is designed to span in the assembly of the structure, as will become apparent.

The clasp i9 is produced from abresilient plastic material, preferably in the configuration shown, comprising the laterally spaced sideforming sections 20, 2| connected at one end by the integral curved surface 22, the opposite ends of said sections being disassociated for the connection of the clasp to the sleeve and shell. For this purpose, each of said latter ends of the side-forming sections 28, 2 I, embodies a terminal surface carrying integral lateral projections 23 defining axially aligned stub shaft formations 23a and 23b leading to the oppositely disposed projections 230 having an enlarged peripheral contour, the free end of which is of decreasing cross-section, to impart to them an approximately acorn configuration, the inner end surface of which forms an annular lock flange 23d.

In the assembly of the appliance, the sleeve is superimposed upon the shell ID with the apertures l1 and I8 of the sleeve and shell in registration and the two elements connected for relative hinged movement by the entry of the respective stub shaft formations 23a. and 23b ofthe clasp in the opposite registering apertures, while the projections 230 are forced-fit through the apertures with their flanges 23d forming an end stop to prevent withdrawal or separation, the clasp being thereby-connected to the shell and sleeve for 'relativearcuate movement. This interconnection of the three components of the curler for relative hinged movement is readily accomplished by reason of the inherent resiliency of the clasp material, the side-forming sections 29, 2| being expanded in the zone of-the projections 23a to 23c to permit the projections ,to ride upon the surface of the sleeve l2 superposed upon the shell I and enter the apertures of the sleeve and shell as they are alined therewith in the reaction of the side-forming sections from ,expanded to normal position, it being obviousthat in the normal disposition of the side-forming sections of the clasp, the opposed heads of the projections 23 are locked along .flanges 23a in proximity to each other by the forced-fit entering of the same into the registering apertures l1! and [8, so that the common hinge connection formed by such projections is highly resistant to dislocation, even where the clasp may be somewhat Jdistorted in rough or careless handling or manipulation of .the appliance.

Atitsfree end, the shell H) is notched or provided with detents at diametrically opposite points, as indicated at 24 (see Figure 4i) ,.to form seats for engagement by the cooperating surfaces 25, 26 of the clasp l9, these latter surfaces being produced by increasing the cross-sectional area of the side-forming sections 20, 2| of the clasp inwardly of the aforementioned endeforming surface 22, it being evident thatthe lateral. spacing of the side-forming sections beyond the surfaces 25, 26 is reduced in proportion to them crease in width of said sections. Normally, as' is clearly shown in Figures 1, '3 and 5,"the,sideforming sections of the clasp are oppositely outwarclly curved longitudinally and, since the hinge line, as defined by the projections 23 engaged with the alined apertures 11 and 18 of the sleeve and shell respectively, is fixed, with relation'to the free end of the shell, and the normal length of the clasp locates the notch-engaging surfaces 25, 26 opposite the notches or detents 24, assuming that the clasp is manipulated to a position in superposed relation to the shell and overlying sleeve, it follows that in order to engage the clasp surfaces 25, 26 with the notches 24, the clasp must be slightly elongated by 'theiinward compression of the opposite side-forming sections 29,25. to permit the clasp surfaces 25, '26 to traverse the end of the shell for seating within the notches 24, as .the side-forming'sections of the clasp react to assume their normal configurationand restore the clasp to its normal length. Obviously, in the expansion of the side-forming sections to their normal relative positions, the

notch-engaging surfaces 25, 26 will be urgedinto close association with the notches 24 of the shell and the clasp will b firmly andpositively interlocked to the shell to afford a'maximum of security against accidental separation therefrom. By subsequently compressing the side=forming sections of the clasp, th resulting elongationof the clasp will move the notch-engaging surfaces 25, 26 out of their seated positions, so that the clasp may be rotated on its hinge connection to a position, as shown in Figure 2, which admits of the opposit movement of the sleeve l2, relative to the shell [0.

In the use of the appliance, conventional practice is followed, the tip of the strand or lock of hair to be curled is placed upon the shell and the sleeve I2 is superposed thereon in the requisite hinged movement relative to the shell, the hair then being-wound helically orspirally upon the shell and sleeve until the-winding is completed, when the clasp I9 is engaged with and interlocked to the end of the shell 10, as described, to retain the appliance in position until the curl is set. The clasp is then disconnected from engagement-withthe free end of the shell and swung out of the way, as previously stated, to release 'thehair and permit of th removal of the appliance from the set curl.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 'land 8, in lieu of thenotch-engagingsurfaces25, 2Sythef-reeend of the clasp I9 is provided with an integrallyformed annular boss 21, having a peripheral substantially ellipsoidal longitudinal groove 28 conformed with greatest depth at its center and adapted for engagement with the diametrically opposite angular toothed projections '29-on the peripheral edge of the end of the shell It, the length of the groove in said boss which is of a diamater to permit it to span the 7 end of the shell, being such that both of said projections are engaged within the groove, 50 that the shell and clasp ar -co-axially alined when in interlocking engagement.

-As-in the preferred form of my invention, the interlocking of the boss 21 with the projections 29 of the shell Ill is effected in response to the elongation of the resilient clasp and the subsequent reaction of the clasp to assume its normal configuration, which urges the opposed surfaces of the groove 28 and the projections 29 of the shell into close association and insures the maintenance of the clasp in functioning position, in manner hereinbefore set forth in the description of the preferred form of my invention.

From the foregoing, it will be manifest that I have devised a simple, economical and highly efficient all-plastic curler or :hairwinder which maybe readily applied to the hair andzin which the clasp may be interlocked with the shell to retainthe curler in curl-setting condition with a minimum of effort on the part of the user, the manner in which the clasp is interlocked with the shell insuring against accidental separation of the clasp from the shell and the marringor 'unsetting of the preformed curl.

I claim:

.1. A hair-curling or winding appliance, embo'dyinga plastic shell of a tubular configuration transversely perforated adjacent one end, the peripheral edge of the opposite end of said shell having diametrically oppositely disposed contourvariations, a plasticsleeve having a surfaceconformed for registration with a complemental portion of the surface of said shell, said sleeve being transversely apertured adjacent one endthereof, a clasp composed of resilient plastic material embodying laterally spaced side sections connected by an end-forming surface, the opposite ends of said side-forming sections being disassociated and provided with oppositely ,disposed projectionshaving cylindrical bearing sections terminating inknob-like head portions, the side-forming sections of said clasp being 'rela tively expandable for alinement of said are:

jections with the alined apertures of said sleeve and shell, for the entry of the head portions of said projections through said alined apertures under pressure to inseparably interconnect said sleeve and said shell for relative hinged movement on the bearing sections of said projections, said clasp being arcuately rotatable relative to said sleeve and said shell, said clasp in the zone of said end-forming surface having surfaces projecting inwardly thereof and conformed for interlocking engagement with the contour variations of the periphery of the free end of said shell, in response to the elongation of said clasp by compression of the opposite side-forming sections thereof, to locate said latter inwardly projecting surfaces of the clasp in alinement with the contour variations in the edge of the free end of the shell, whereby the release of the sideforming sections of the clasp from compression forces will permit the clasp to react to its normal length and interlockingly engage said inwardly projecting surfaces of the clasp with the contour variations in the free end of the shell, to secure said clasp to said shell in superposed relation to said sleeve.

2. A hair-curling or winding appliance, embodying a plastic shell of a tubular configuration transversely apertured adjacent one end, the peripheral edge of the opposite end of said shell having diametrically oppositely disposed contour variations, a clasp composed of resilient plastic material embodying laterally spaced side section connected by an end-forming surface, the opposite ends of said side-forming sections being disassociated and provided with oppositely disposed alined projections, having bearing sections terminating in enlarged head portions, the sideforming sections of said clasp being relatively expandable for alinement of said projections with the apertures of said shell for the entry of the heads of said projections through said shell apertures under pressure, to inseparably interconnect said clasp to said shell for relative hinged movement, and means at the opposite end of said clasp adapted for frictional engagement with the contour variations in the peripheral edge of the free end of said shell to interlock said clasp to said shell, in response to the elongation of said clasp to aline the latter end of said clasp with the contour variations in the edge of the free end of the shell for positive engagement therewith in the reaction of said clasp from elongated condition to its normal length.

3. A hair-curling or winding appliance embodying a plastic shell of tubular configuration transversely apertured adjacent one end, the defining edge of the opposite end of said shell provided with diametrically oppositely disposed notches, a plastic sleeve having a surface conformed for registration with a complemental surface of said shell, said sleeve being transversely apertured adjacent one end thereof, a clasp composed of resilient plastic material embodying laterally spaced side-forming sections connected by an end-forming surface, the opposite ends of said side-forming sections being disassociated and provided with oppositely disposed alined projections, each of said projections embodying a shaft portion complemental to the apertures of said shell axially merging into a head of a greater diameter than that of the apertures of said shell, said head being conformed for forced entry through said apertures to resist withdrawal after entry to form a permanent pivotal connection between said clasp and said shell for relative hinged movement, said clasp in the zone of said end-forming surface having oppositely inwardly directed surfaces conformed for interengagement with said projections on the free end of said shell, in response to the elongation of said clasp to aline said inwardly directed surfaces with said shell projections and the entry of said projecting surfaces of the shell in said inwardly directed surfaces of the clasp in the reaction of said clasp from elongated condition to its normal length, the interengagement of the shell projections and cooperating surfaces of the clasp interlocking the shell and clasp against relative movement.

4. A hair-curling or winding appliance, embodying a plastic shell, having oppositely disposed apertures, and a clasp composed of a resilient plastic material having opposite surfaces at one end thereof for connecting said clasp of said shell for relative hinged movement, each of said surfaces comprising shaft portions complemental to the apertures of the shell, axially merging into a head of greater cross-section than that of the registering apertures, said head being conformed for forced entry through said shell apertures to resist withdrawal after entry to form a permanent pivotal jointure of said shell and clasp, said clasp at its opposite end having surfaces conformed for interlocking engagement with the free end of said shell, in response to the elongation of said clasp to permit of the movement of said clasp relative to said shell for locating said clasp surfaces in alinement with opposite portions of the end of said shell parallel to the axis thereof.

ROSS MCFADDEN. 

